The Vegetation Place of Human and Animals from the Perspective of the Mythology of Creation in Ancient Persia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of History of Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Persian Literature, Paramedical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Myths are truth-based narratives that exist in most nations with a lot of similarities and, of course, with minor differences. These stories are studied for recognition of the opinions, beliefs and the culture of a horde. Since the late nineteenth century, mythology has been recognized as one of the branches of science. In many tribes such as ancient Iran, the belief of vegetation of human and animals can be seen. The mythology of creation is based on the contrast between the noble Ahuraei and the devilish evil forces. At first, Ahuramazda creates all the universes in health and perfection; sky, water, earth, plant, animal and human. Ahriman attacks these creatures and causes illness and death. Ahouramazda, rose up to contradict and the plant grew up from mythical cattle organs and Mashya and mashyana also grew up from Kiomars sperm. These materials can be traced and examined from three perspectives of first-hand sources such as Bundaheshn, Selection of Zadaspram, etc., mythological sources and later research. According to these sources, and with a look at the myths of creation in ancient Persia, the creation of animals and humans from the vegetation can be deduced. In ancient Persia, like many other tribes, there existed a belief of creation of humans and animals from plants.

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